Colonial knife company?

Colonial Knife was incorporated in 1926 by three brothers; Antonio, Domenic, & Fredrick Paolantonio. It grew to become one of the largest pocket knife manufacturers in the US during the 1960s. The company shut down in 1998, but was back into production under the Colonial Cutlery International Corporation in 2001. Colonial Cutlery International, Inc. brand is the imported line of knives and tools while the U.S.A.- made products fall under the Colonial Knife brand.
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thawk
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by thawk »

A couple of Colonials. The handles are hollow, and the paint job on them makes me chuckle. Almost like they were trying to make them look as fake as possible.

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I am not sure if the sheath is original to the Barlow or not. Both have very hearty blades.
Hal
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garddogg56
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by garddogg56 »

I love those old Colonials ::nod:: here is a kinda modern one our shop handed out for safety awards it's a lockback not a bad knife but still not a Buck quality.
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313 Mike
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Here are a few old Colonials I've picked up recently, the red one really caught my eye as I haven't seen many with that color scheme, plus the nice shield and bolsters...
The brown "wood grain" looking one is just marked "made in usa" and the black one I am suspecting to be the oldest of the three as it had the curved Colonial stamp over Providence RI.
Something about the old Colonials that I love....

Mike
Colonials 002.jpg
Colonials 001.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Seems like I'm the last one to have posted any Colonials since three weeks ago! Well, I'm always keeping my eyes open for the older ones and pick them up when the price is right....here's my latest, I love the blue swirl, the serpentine shape, very pleasing to the eye! Solid feeling knife with tons of snap and no wobble on either of the blades. Couple swipes on the stone and she's sharp as can be. Anyone else want to post up some cool old style Colonials...?
Mike
Colonial blue swirl 005.jpg
Colonial blue swirl 006.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

I landed this Colonial Mountain Guide utilty knife which led me to contact Colonial Knife for more details. Come to find out, it's STILL under warranty, was produced between 1970 and 1999. AND................I've been talking with the founders grandson, Steve Paolantonio, and he is planning to send some old brochures to photograph for my blog and my friends here at AAPK!!! He's also sending a couple current knives to review in my blog!

Anyhow....
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Colonial Mountain Guide Knife USA (2).JPG
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Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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313 Mike
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Hey Scott that is very cool news! Be sure to post whatever you can, I would love to see any pics of old brochures or info if possible, and definitely would look forward to reading your reviews of any of their current products.!
...Are you purposely trying to dangle that nice orange Mountain Guide carrot right under my nose ...?? Looks like a natural match with your orange ferro rod lanyard dangling off the end there.....and that big plump spear blade.....sure would fit in nice to with my camping gear....
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Joe Dirt »

Here's an old Hobo "Pic-Nic-Pal", prolly from the '60s. I don't think I've posted it before.
There was another one with a spoon that showed up for auction about a week
after I got this one. The shield had a different stamp. I thought I was a bit crazy
bidding $40 on it - but it turned out that some were just slightly crazier than
me... It sold for over $50!!
That was two and a half times what I payed for this one! :roll:
It's a well built knife to be a shell handle! ::nod::

Wonder if they would honor the warranty on the shell handles?? ::paranoid:: :lol:

Hay Scott, will you ask Steve if he can make a PDF of the old catalog brochures?
Would love to see them. Not a lot of info. on the Colonials can be found!

I'll see if I can find some more old solid construction ones to post.

..... Joe
Attachments
Colonial ''Pic-Nic-Pal'' 001.JPG
Colonial ''Pic-Nic-Pal'' 009.JPG
Colonial ''Pic-Nic-Pal'' 002.JPG
Colonial ''Pic-Nic-Pal'' 004.JPG
Colonial ''Pic-Nic-Pal'' 005.JPG
Check out the nail pull in the fork!
Check out the nail pull in the fork!
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......

..... cardboard addicted.....

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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Will do Joe!! Cool knife bro.

Hey, Mike...............................check your PM's!
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Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Love that Pic Nic Pal Joe, that is awesome!
I posted this one in the knife q&a forum as well, but it fits in here of course, and I want to keep this Colonial thread rolling, love em! This one is a Colonial Lockback, have no idea on the date, but am guessing 70's...ish? Real solid knife, feels good in the hand, sturdy. Blade has solid lockup with no wobble, handles are solid and the blade took an edge with just a few strokes on the stone! If anyone has any info to share about it I would love to hear it, or if you have pics of some similar ones I'd love to see 'em!
Mike
Colonial Lockback 001.jpg
Colonial Lockback 002.jpg
Colonial Lockback 003.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

You guys gotta stay in touch with my blog......I'm communicating between two of the founding father's cousins right now.
It's amazing......

This Colonial Old Cutler 5 Star Series Stag Handle Barlow by Robert A Paolantonio just arrived today. She is soooooooo beautiful. You don't see many "top notch" knives like this by Colonial.
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Old Cutler Colonial R.A.P. USA Barlow Knife 012.JPG
Old Cutler Colonial R.A.P. USA Barlow Knife 006.JPG
SCOTT
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)

Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

It was a marvelous day for me as I received a package from Steve Paolantonio, Pres of Colonial Knife Corp.

Included was some vintage graphics....check these pics out!
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From 1979 catalog (pay no attention to the image name)
From 1979 catalog (pay no attention to the image name)
Old Cutler Colonial R.A.P. USA Barlow Knife 017.JPG
Old Cutler Colonial R.A.P. USA Barlow Knife 019.JPG
Old Cutler Colonial R.A.P. USA Barlow Knife 013.JPG
Old Cutler Colonial R.A.P. USA Barlow Knife 014.JPG
Old Cutler Colonial R.A.P. USA Barlow Knife 015.JPG
SCOTT
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)

Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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313 Mike
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Great score Scott!
I have one of the small Ranger knives, a mini peanut style jacknife I think, but I didn't know they made a Barlow in that line, that looks like one to keep my eyes open for! Interesting that mine isn't stamped Colonial, just RANGER PROV USA. That is one of the things I've noticed about Colonial is that they have alot of different tang stampings, and some of their knives don't have any stampings other than Made in USA or just USA....
Great graphics, that was mighty generous of him to send them to you...Hopefully when the book eventually comes out some of those graphics and others like it will be included!
Mike
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

And keep this in mind..............................this isn't from the grandson who is writing the book!!!
SCOTT
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Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by singin46 »

WAY COOL Scott! ::tu:: ::tu::
Love all Jacks
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

These are my two nicest Colonial knives, both brand new. The fish knife photo was downloaded off of the e-bay auction that I bought it off of - still not sure if I am even going to open the blister package. The reverse dog leg jack was new without packaging when I bought it at a pawn shop. Looking forward to the book, I like 'working class" knives.
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Colonial Fish Knife.jpg
DSC03339opt.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by garddogg56 »

O.H. Very nice ::nod::
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Knive O.H.!! I'd leave it in the blister pack.

The new Colonial barlow I just purchased will probably never see any carry time......

Here's a clearer shot of the stag handles on this Colonial Old Cutler by R.A.P. Knife
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Old Cutler Colonial R.A.P. USA Barlow Knife 008.JPG
SCOTT
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)

Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Top »

Nice one Scott. Here is the only Colonial I have in my collection. Not sure what the vintage is but it looks like it was used and carried, note the pits in the blades. The handle scales are tight and in good shape, just scratched up a little.
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

This is the Colonial Old Cutler Texas Jack I received yesterday. In examining this knife I would put it in the same class as an Imperial-Frontier or Schrade Old Timer; solid, well fitted Delrin handles with substantial blades and brass liners. Top (I take it the USMC uses the same nickname for a 1SG that the Army uses) your knife has an additional hawkbill blade that the standard electrician model (like mine) lacks - it must be Colonial's "Deluxe" Electrician model.
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DSC03776opt.jpg
DSC03256opt.jpg
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Top »

Old Hunter, Nope I am a MSgt, not a 1stSgt. Good looking Colonial you got there.
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Here is my smallest Colonial, just a little sliver of a knife. I like the fact that the tang stamping is horizontal along the tang so it can fit on the tiny little blade, kinda unique. Too bad it doesn't show up all that well on the pic, but I think ya get the idea.
Mike
tiny Colonial 001.jpg
tiny Colonial 002.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

I've made another post in my blog focused around these items pictured below. To read my blog post click on this link:
http://pocketknivesblog.com/more-vintag ... morabilia/

To simply view the images, welllll....................
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Colonial Knife & Sharpener 002.JPG
Colonial Knife & Sharpener 011.JPG
SCOTT
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)

Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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313 Mike
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Great stuff Scott! Your blog is a cool place to visit, I appreciate and share your passion for the steel! That knife/multi-tool looks like quite the beast, and I've never seen the stone with the sheath before, great Colonial collectables Scott, way to go!
Mike
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Thanks Mike!! ::tu::
SCOTT
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Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

Scott, more cool Colonial stuff - keep it coming!

Here is my latest, put a quickie picture of it on the general thread up top, but needed to put a better picture here in the Colonial thread as well; my NOS Colonial Old Cutler 3-3/8" smooth Delrin handled, jack knife from an e-bay auction last week. It came in a worn, red, two piece box with instructions and a warranty number - guessing it to be from the 1970's or 1980's.
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DSC03901.JPG
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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